‘Rope Kojonen offer his readers an informed, nuanced, scholarly, cool, philosophically and scientifically current reflection on the question of what the concepts of ‘design’ and ‘purpose’ might mean within evolutionary theory. His approach is necessarily disarming, subtle and gently corrosive to all entrenched positions. No established point of view escapes unchallenged – as an example of how philosophical and theological thinking can spur imaginative progress in scientific reasoning, it is a welcome and important contribution.’- Tom McLeish, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics, University of York, UK
‘It shows considerable courage to re-invoke the term ‘design’ in relation to the theology of biology. The concept seemed tellingly dismissed by Richard Dawkins, and revived only in highly dubious form by intelligent design theorists. So Rope Kojonen deserves great credit for re-evaluating the idea of divine design in dialogue with the whole range of contemporary literature. This book will fill a gap in that literature, and should be of considerable help to teachers and students alike.’
– Christopher Southgate, Professor of Christian Theodicy, University of Exeter, UK
‘A remarkably helpful and important intervention in the long-standing debates about arguments from design, natural theology, and the impact of evolutionary theory on Christian theology and apologetics. Kojonen’s work enables a richer and fuller engagement with these important topics, while opening up fresh lines of discussion and exploration, especially in relation to how we should understand – and might also discern – design within the natural world.’
– Alister E. McGrath, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford, UK
‘This book offers a well-researched, lucid, carefully argued, and well-balanced assessment of whether evolutionary theory is compatible with holding that biological teleology provides evidence of a Creator. It is an essential reading for anyone interested in the relationship between science, philosophy, and religion.’
– Andrew T. Loke, Associate Professor, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong